Automatic reloading mechanism for rifles with sliding bolt action



Sept. 13, 1960 2,952,088

J. T. lVY AUTOMATIC RELOADING MECHANISM FOR RIFLES WITH SLIDING BOLTACTION Filed Aug. 12, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JESS/E 7. luv

2,952,088 0R RIFLES ON Sept. 13, 1960 J. T. IVY

AUTOMATIC RELOADING MECHANISM F WITH SLIDING BOLT ACTI 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Aug. 12, 1958 INVENTOR. Jfsslf T /w '47'7'0ENEYJ IE3 I \T t? IVYSept. 13, 1960 ING MECHANISM FOR RIFLES WITH sunms BOLT ACTION AUTOMATICRELOAD Filed Aug. 12, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

JESS/E 7'. lvv

INVEN Tole o mw AUTOMATIC RELOADING MECHANISM FOR RIFLES WITH SLIDINGBOLT ACTION Jessie T. Ivy, 523 Henderson St., Seattle, Wash.

Filed Aug. 12, 1958, Ser. No. 754,636

3 Claims. (Cl. 42-16) This invention relates to repeating rifles ofthose kinds having a sliding bolt action. More particularly, theinvention relates to improved mechanisms or means that is operable toeflect the automatic reloading of such a rifle incident to the firingtherein of each cartridge.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide mechanisms thatare applicable to rifles of the above character whereby recoil forcesmay be employed in a practical and satisfactory manner to unlock thebolt and retract it to extract and eject the fired cartridge, then willoperate to close the bolt, and, in doing this, to reload the rifle, andfinally will lock the bolt to retain the cartridge in the barrel forfiring.

More specifically stated, it is the principal object of this inventionto provide simplified and practical mechanisms that may be readilyincorporated with the mechanisms of the usual sliding bolt action riflewhereby recoil forces as applied to a yieldable shoulder pad mounted onthe end of the gun stock, for relatively short movement, will operatethrough a movement increasing mechanism to effect the necessary travelof the bolt for a reloading operation, the mechanism providing also forthe rotative movements of the bolt that are required for unlocking andalso for locking it after a reloading operation.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide mechanisms ofthe above stated character which include a recoil actuated means forunlocking the bolt for actuation under force of the exploding charge toextract and discharge the shell of the fired cartridge and wherein thebolt is powered for the reloading and locking operation by spring meansthat is placed under compression by the opening operation of the bolt.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention reside in thedetails of construction and combination of parts employed in the variousmechanisms and in their mode of operation, as will be hereinafter fullydescribed.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention,I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferredforms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a view in which a recoil operated reloading mechanism,embodied by the present invention, is shown as applied to a rifle withsliding bolt action; the rifle being shown only in outline and the partsof the reloading mechanism and bolt being shown in the relationship theyassume upon loading and preparatory to firing the rifle.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the rifle and reloading mechanism as seen fromthe side opposite that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the reloading mechanism, applied to the rifle asshown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken substantially on line 44 inFig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of parts of the reloading mechanism for theactuation of the bolt.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of the stock and receiver I Patented Sept.13, 1960 portion of a repeating rifle that is equipped with a recoiloperated mechanism of an alternative form utilizing a chain connectionbetween the movement multiplying gearing and the bolt.

Fig. 6a is an enlarged sectional detail of the connection between boltand chain.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the gun stock showingthe operating connection between recoil pad and rifle bolt.

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail showing rack bar and pinion mechanism thatmay be employed in the bolt operating mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a detail of one form of bolt actuating chain.

Fig. 10 is an elevation of a part of a rifle equipped with anothermodification of a recoil operated bolt releasing or unlocking means.

Fig. 11 is a bolt' unlocking means which is gas controlled.

Fig. 12 is a sectional detail of the gas cylinder of the device of Fig.11.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

That form of the present invention which will be described firstpertains to rifles of the sliding bolt action types in which the slidingbolt is equipped with a laterally directed hand lever whereby it can beunlocked, retracted for extraction of the shell or casing of a firedcartridge, then returned to closed position for loading a cartridge intothe breech end of the barrel and then rotated to its locked position.Firing is then effected, in the usual manner, by pull on a trigger. Suchrifles also are equipped to receive a cartridge clip from which acartridge will be automatically fed into the receiver chamber with eachreloading operation, for advancement by the bolt into the barrel forfiring.

In Figs. 1 to 5, I have shown a mechanism embodied by this inventionthat will be operated by recoil forces to automatically effect areloading operation. The rifle is of conventional form employing asliding bolt. In these views the rifle barrel is designated by referencenumeral 10, and it is secured at its breech end in a frame 11 to whichthe gun stock '12 is attached. The stock comprises the usual shoulderengaging base portion 12a and an elongated forward end portion 12b inwhich the barrel is cradled. Also, the stock is herein shown as beingequipped with a pistol grip 12g which is fixed thereto just back of thetrigger guard 13. The trigger is designated at 14.

The rifle also is equipped with a bolt 15 that is reciprocally containedin the frame and which bolt is equipped with an operating lever 16,fixed to its rearward end and extending laterally from the frame. Therifle frame also is equipped, in the usual way, with a chamber designedto receive a cartridge holding clip from which a cartridge will beautomatically delivered into the receiver chamber upon retraction of thebolt, for advancement into the barrel by the breech closing action ofthe bolt, as is well understood. The rifle which has been disclosed inFigs. 1, l2 and 3, is substantially like that shown and described in myUS. Patent No. 2,807,113.

The present reloading mechanism as seen in Fig. l, is employed for theactuation of the bolt 15 through a connection which is made with theouter end of the operating lever 16. It comprises a shoulder pad 23adapted to be rested against the rifle users shoulder for firing. Thepad is mounted by a horizontal stem 25 that is reciprocally fitted in asocket 27 that is bored in the rear end of stock 12. Fixed to andextending inwardly from the stem 25 is a rod Q8, this being contained ina bore or passageway that leads forwardly in the stock to a positionbeyond the frame, and at its forward end it is reciprocally contained ina guide housing 30 which is enclosed within the forward portion of thestock; this guide housing being securely and rigidly fixed to the breechend portion of the barrel by a vertical screw bolt 31 as shown in Fig.4. The rod 28 has a portion thereof laterally offset to pass the frame,as will be understood by reference to Fig. 3.

Also, it is shown in Fig. 1 that a coiled spring 32 is confined undercompression in the socket 27 to bear against the stem 25 to urge theshoulder pad 23 away from the end of the stock.

Mounted in the housing 30 are two coaxial gears 33 and 34; these gearsbeing fixed together and are mounted to rotate on the vertical bolt 31.For a purpose presently explained, the gear 33 is substantially greaterin diameter than gear 34.

The forward end portion of the rod 28, as well shown in Fig. 3 is formedas a rack 35, the teeth of which are retained by housing 30 in drivingmesh with the gear 34, thus when the rod is actuated forwardly relativeto the housing, the gear 34 will be rotated in one direction, and whenthe rod is retracted, the gear will be rotated in the oppositedirection. When the gear 34 is thus rotated, it causes the larger gearwheel 33 to rotate in unison therewith.

The operating connection here provided between the rod 28 and the boltactuating lever 16 is as shown in Fig. 3. In this view it is observedthat a rack bar 36 is mounted in operative mesh with larger gear wheel33; this rack bar being reciprocally mounted at one end in and movablethrough housing 30, in operative mesh with gear 33. It is held inparallel relationship to rack bar 35. At its forward end, the rack bar36 is connected to the rear end of a rod or link 38 which, at itsforward end, mounts a laterally directed lever arm 37 which has auniversal joint connection 39 at its outer end with the outer endportion of the bolt actuating lever 16.

The rack bar 36, as reciprocally movable in the guide housing 30 whichis fixed to the barrel, has no rotative movement. The connection betweenthe rearward end of the rack bar 36 and forward end of link or rod 38 isas shown best in Fig. 5. In this view, it will be observed that the rackbar terminates at its rearward end in a laterally ofifset cylindricalportion 36x in which a piston-like forward end portion 38x of rod 38 isreciprocally and rotatably fitted. The piston-like portion 38x is formedwith a spiral slot 42 in which a stud 43 that is fixed in the wall ofpart 36x extends. The extent of travel of the stud along the part 38x islimited by the ends of the slot.

The rod 38 is supported near its rear end for reciprocal and rotativemovement in a bearing 45 that is fixed to the frame 11. The lever arm 37is so connected to the rod 38 and to the bolt operating lever 16 that,with the turning of the rod 38 in opposite directions it will operate toswing the lever 16 as required for unlocking and locking the bolt.

It will be further explained that the operating connections hereprovided between parts 16, 37 and 38 are in accordance with theconnections between corresponding parts shown in my previously mentionedU.S. Patent No. 2,807,113.

It Will here be understood that with the rifle loaded and the boltlocked, the reloading mechanism above described will be in the relativepositions shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. When the rifle is fired, the recoilforces effect a relative forward movement of shoulder pad 23 and rod 28.The rack bar 35 at the forward end of rod 28 thus causes rotation ofgear 34 and also gear 33. Gear 33 moves the rack bar 36 rearwardly, andwith its initial travel, the stud 43 carried in the cylindrical portion36x moves along the spiral slot 42 of part 38x and rotates rod 38causing it, through lever arm 37, to swing lever arm 16 upwardly tounlock the bolt. Then the continued rearward movement of the rack 36after stud 43 has engaged the end of the slot, moves rod 38 rearwardlyand thus shifts the unlocked bolt to its fully retracted position.Incident to the opening of the bolt, the case of the fired cartridge isextracted and ejected in the usual way. When the recoil forces areexpended, the coiled spring 32 returns the shoulder pad 23 to itsoriginal spacing from the end of the stock, and the rack 35 acts throughthe gears 33 and 34, and parts 36, 38, 37 and 16, to close the bolt.With the final rearward travel of the rack 36, the pin and slotconnection between parts 36x and 38x rotates the rod 38 and effects thelocking of the bolt.

Insofar as the opening and means for etfecting the operations of thebolt are concerned, the connections between bolt lever 16 and betweenbolt and receiver guideway is the same as explained in the patent previously mentioned and it is not believed necessary to describe theseparts more in detail. p

In the recoil actuated reloading mechanisms of Figs. 6, 6a and 7, atravel multiplying gearing is included in the connection betweenshoulder pad 23 and bolt 15x, but in this instance the gearing isenclosed in a chamber formed in and opening to the rear end portion 12aof the gun stock and closed at its rear end by a cover plate 51. Theshoulder pad 23 is fixed rigidly to the rear end of a push rod 52 thatis adjustably threaded into a bushing 53 that is slidably fitted in atube 54 that is fixed to the face plate 51 that closes the rear end ofchamber 12a. At its inner end, the rod 52 is formed with a rack 55 whichis disposed in operative mesh with a relatively small gear wheel 56fixed coaxially to a substantially larger sprocket wheel 57; both gear56 and wheel 57 are revolubly mounted on a supporting stud or spindle 58that is fixed in the stock chamber 50.

The rifle bolt, as designated in Figs. 6 and 7 by numeral 15x, is ofconventional design or type in that it is rotatably contained in andalso adapted for longitudinal travel between closed and open position ina bore 59 in the receiver. Its functional operations for unlocking,extracting, reloading and locking are substantially like those of thebolt of the rifle of Fig, 1, and are effected by recoil forces, througha connection which comprises a length of sprocket chain 60 that is fixedat one end to the periphery of sprocket 57, as at 62 in Fig. 6. Thischain slides freely in guides 63 that lead from the forward end ofchamber 50 into the rear end of bore 59 where it connects, as at 64 witha stem 65 on the rear end of a cylindrical sleeve 65, that is applied toa coaxial, diametrically reduced rear end portion 15r of bolt 15x forrotary and longitudinal movement thereon. The sleeve 65 is formedlengthwise and interiorly thereof with a spiral slot 66. A stud 67 isfixed in the part 15r and extends into this slot. When the bolt isclosed and locked, the sleeve 65 is disposed closely against the rearend of the bolt as shown in Fig. 6a. When recoil takes place incident tofiring, the shoulder pad 23 and rod 52 move forwardly relative to therifle, thus causing the rack 55 to rotate gear 56 and sprocket wheel 57and cause the sprocket chain 60 to be wound onto the sprocket 57 andthus pull the sleeve 65 rearwardly. The bolt, being locked, cannot moverearwardly, and since the sleeve cannot rotate by reason of itsconnection with the chain, its rearward travel causes the stud 67, infollowing alongthe spiral slot 66, to rotate and unlock the bolt. Then,when the stud 67 engages the forward end of the slot, the bolt will bepulled rearwardly by the chain thus to extract the fired shell anddischarge it from the receiver in the usual manner.

When the recoil forces have been expended, a coiled spring 70 that isconfined under compression in tube 54, acts against the bushing 53 toreturn the shoulder pad 23 to its normal spacing from the rear end ofthe stock, as shown in Fig. 6 and in doing this the gear 56 and Sprocket57 are rotated in such direction as to cause the chain to be pushedforwardly in its guides 63 and the bolt 15x to be returned to its lockedposition. During its forward advancement, the bolt is retained againstrotation by reason of a keyed connection, as shown in 69 in Fig. 6a,with the wall of the bore in which it slides, but upon reaching itsclosed position the key is freled from the key slot for rotation andlocking of the ho t.

Then the sleeve 65 moves forwardly on the shank 15r and in doing thisthe stud 67 travels rearwardly in the slot 66 and causes that rotativemovement of the bolt that is required for locking it. Extraction of thefired cartridge and reloading is effected by devices associated With thebolt in the usual manner and therefore it is not thought necessary todescribe them in detail.

In Figure 9, I have shown an alternative form or means of connectionbetween the rifle bolt and a travel increasing gear or sprocket. Inthis, a push-pull rod 70 replaces a part of the chain 60 that iscontained in a straight portion of the guide tube 63, and that portionof the chain 60 that was contained in the curved portion of the guidetube is here replaced by a succession of ball engaged bearings 71mounted on a cable 72 that is attached at its opposite ends by fittingsas shown at 7373 to the rod 70 and to the sleeve 65.

In Fig. 8, I have shown a travel increasing connection similar to thatof Fig. 6 except that in this disclosure a gear wheel 75 is used in lieuof sprocket wheel 57 and the shoulder pad actuated rack bar 55a that ishere shown, is supported to travel in mesh with the underside of gear 56and a similar rack bar 77 is mounted in operative mesh with the top sideof the larger gear 75. The operating connection between the rack bar 77and rifle bolt, not shown, may be made like that shown in Fig. 9 andabove described, or in any other suitable manner.

In the showing of Fig. 8, it will be observed that the rack bars 55a and77 are held in mesh with the gear wheels by rollers as at 78.

In each of the various mechanisms, the reloading operation is initiatedby recoil forces, and in each instance the relative movement betweenshoulder pad 23 and gun stock 12 as eflected by recoil forces impartsthe bolt unlocking and shell extracting operations, while the reloadingand locking is effected by spring action.

Also in each instance, the relatively short recoil movement of theshoulder pad 23 is multiplied by gearing contained in the stock chamber.

The recoil operated reloading mechanisms disclosed in Figs. and 11 applyto rifles wherein the bolt, upon being unlocked, is driven rearward forshell extraction by the firing of the shell, that is, by the pressure ofgas confined in the barrel back of the bullet, and is then returned forreloading and locking by spring means acting thereagainst.

In the rifle of Fig. 10, a bolt d is contained reciprocally, and forthat slight rotative movement required to unlock and lock it, in areceiver 311. It is equipped at one side with a stud 81 that extends toone side of the receiver through a slot 82 formed therein and at itsouter end this stud is equipped with a roller 83. When the bolt islocked, the roller will be located in the full line position in which itis shown in Fig. 10. To unlock the bolt, the roller is pushed upwardly,as to the position in which it is shown in dotted lines.

To accomplish this bolt unlocking operation by. recoil forces, I providethe shoulder pad 23d, as in the rifle of Fig. 1. It is supported byparallel rods 84 and 85 that are slidably mounted in a plate 86 thatcloses the rear end of the stock chamber 124. Mounted in the chamber bya pivot stud 87 that passes through its medial portion, is a verticallever 88, to the lower end of which the inner end of rod 85 is connectedby a pin and slot connection as at 89. Contained in the stock, andleading forwardly from the chamber 12d and outwardly to one side of thestock, is a tubular guide 90, in the rear end portion of which theforward end of a rod 91 is contained. The rod is mounted for reciprocalmovement in a support 92 and has a pin and slot connection at 93, withthe upper end portion of lever 88.

The tube contains a flexible connector 95 like that of Fig. 9 which, atits forward end, is attached, as at 96, to the rear end of a rod 98 thatextends along the outside of rifle and which, at its forward end, ispivotally fixed to the downwardly extending arm of a bell crank lever99, that is attached by a pivot stud 100 to the rifle frame. Ahorizontal arm of the bell crank lever has a cam surface along its topedge that engages the underside of the roller 83. Therefore, with therecoil of the rifle, the rod 91 is pulled rearwardly by the mechanismshown. This causes the bell crank 99 to actuate roller 83 upwardly thusto unlock'the bolt for its rearward movement and shell extractionincident to firing a cartridge in the rifle. Then with the expending ofthe recoil forces, the bolt is returned by spring action and locked inclosed position. The recoil pad 23 and parts connected therewith arereturned to normal position by a coiled spring 102 that acts against therod guide 92 and a pin 103 applied through the rod 91 as shown.

The device shown in Fig. 11, likewise, operates in a manner similar tothat of Fig. 10, to unlock the bolt. In this mechanism the bolt isreleased by means of a bell crank lever 99 arranged to act upwardlyagainst roller 83. However, the actuation of the bell crank lever iseffected through a rod 105 that extends along the rifle barrel and ispivotally connected at its rear end to the bell crank, as at 196, and atits forward end is attached to the piston 197 of a gas cylinder 108 thatis fixed to the rifle barrel and which has a gas port 110 opening intothe bore 111 of the barrel.

When a cartridge is fired, the gas pressure back of the bullet actsthrough port 110 against the piston to drive it forwardly and it acts,through rod 105, to actuate bell crank 99 to release the bolt forrearward actuation under the gas pressure in the rifle bore actingagainst it. A spring 112 confined under pressure in the cylinder 108acts against the piston 107 to return the parts to normal position.

The bolt in the rifle of Fig. 11 is returned for reloading and lockingby spring means not herein shown.

It is further to be understood that the connections 100 and 106 asapplied to the bell crank 99 might be reversed and the bell crank thenactuated by a pushing action of rods 98 and 105. Also, the mechanisms asshown in Figs. 10 and 12 might be reversed to cause a pushing action onrods 98 and 105 instead of a pulling action.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a rifle of the character described having a sliding bolt; ashoulder pad yieldingly supported from the end of the gun stock, saidstock having a chamber formed therein, a pinion gear rotatably mountedin said chamber, a sprocket wheel of substantially greater diameter thansaid known gear fixed concentrically thereto and rotatable in unisontherewith, a push rod extended rearwardly from said chamber and mountingsaid shoulder pad thereon at its outer end, a coiled spring actingagainst said push rod to normally retain the pad spaced from the end ofthe gun stock, said rod having geared connection at its forward end withsaid pinion gear whereby inward movement of the rod, under the effect ofrecoil upon firing, causes said pinion gear to be rotated and saidsprocket wheel to be rotated in unison therewith, and a chain beltconnected at oneend to the sprocket wheel for winding thereon incidentto its turning as induced by inward movement of said push rod, andconnected at its other end to said bolt for moving it to open position.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said 7 8 bolt also haslimited rotation in opposite directions for fixed in the stock guidesthe sprocket chain in its endwise locking and unlocking it, and saidsprocket chain is 0011- travel and retains it against rotation. nectedto said bolt by a means whereby initial bolt opening pull causes thebolt to be rotated to unlock it -for References Cited in the file f thispatent movement and whereby final closing push causes it to 5 be rotatedfor locking. UNITED STATES PATENTS 3. The combination recited in claim 2wherein means 2, 07,113 Ivy Sept. 24, 1957

